Understanding Prohibited and Restricted Items Policy | Portless Help Center
Understanding Prohibited and Restricted Items Policy
This guide lists prohibited product categories and explains Portless’s review process to ensure safe and compliant shipping.
March 9, 2026
Table of contents
Things to keep in mind
- Portless may request product details or documentation before approving shipments.
- Regulations can differ by country and shipping partner. Always check local rules before shipping.
- Violations of this policy can lead to delays, penalties, or loss of shipping privileges.
Prohibited items
The list below identifies known prohibited products. Portless reserves the right to review products on a case-by-case basis.
Weapons and ammunition
Items designed to cause harm or destruction, including firearms and their components.
| Item Type | Examples/Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Firearms (including imitations and main parts) | Pistols, rifles, submachine guns, riot guns, air guns, shotguns, sports guns, anesthesia injection guns, steel ball guns, tear gas guns, etc. |
| Ammunition (including imitations) | Bullets, bombs, grenades, rockets, flares, incendiary bombs, smoke bombs, signal bombs, tear gas bombs, gas bombs, land mines, grenades, artillery shells, gunpowder, etc. |
| Controlled knives | Daggers, three-sided scrapers, switch knives, butterfly knives, military knives, samurai knives, folding knives, etc. |
| Other weapons | Crossbows, tear gas, tear gas guns, electric shock devices, police batons, iron lotus, telescopic batons, finger tigers, nunchakus, etc. |
Flammable and explosive materials
Substances that can ignite or explode under normal shipping conditions.
| Item Type | Examples/Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Blasting equipment | Explosives, detonators, fuse, detonating cord, blasting agents, etc. |
| Fireworks and firecrackers | Fireworks, firecrackers, pyrotechnic powder, launching paper, black powder, etc. |
| Flammable solids | Sulfur, candles, table tennis balls, etc. |
| Flammable liquids | Gasoline, kerosene, paint, perfumes, nail polish, alcohol, insecticides, etc. |
| Spontaneous combustion items | Yellow phosphorus, oil paper, oil cloth, etc. |
| Items that burn in water | Sodium metal, aluminum powder, etc. |
| Corrosive materials | Hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, hydrogen peroxide, etc. |
| Explosive items | Detonators, explosives, fuse, fireworks, lithium batteries, etc. |
| Other flammable and explosive items | Flint, magnesium rods, lighters, activated carbon, propellants, nitrocellulose, electric ignition tips, etc. |
Compressed and liquefied gases
Gases stored under pressure may be hazardous when released.
| Item Type | Examples/Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Flammable gases | Hydrogen, methane, butane, natural gas, propane, lighters, etc. |
| Toxic gases | Carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, chlorine, etc. |
| Explosive or suffocating gases | Compressed oxygen, nitrogen, helium, neon, aerosol, etc. |
Plants and plant products
Living or preserved plant materials that are subject to agricultural restrictions.
| Item Type | Examples/Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Plants and plant products | Flowers, fruits, vegetables, seeds, plant specimens, pine cones, etc. |
Animals and animal products
Live animals or items derived from animals that pose health or ethical concerns.
| Item Type | Examples/Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Animals and animal products | Shells, crabs, animal specimens, furs, etc. |
Medicines and medical products
Prescription or over-the-counter drugs and related healthcare items.
| Item Type | Examples/Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Medicines and medical products | Anesthetics, ointments, pain relief patches, hemorrhoid creams, anesthesia creams, hyaluronic acid, tooth whitening gels, mercury thermometers, syringes, tattoo needles, etc. |
Food and beverages
Perishable or consumable goods that are subject to strict safety regulations.
| Item Type | Examples/Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Food and beverages | Meat, drinks, coffee, fruits, snacks, tea, etc. |
Liquid and powder products
Items in liquid or powdered form that may leak, spill, or be difficult to handle.
| Item Type | Examples/Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Liquid and powder products | Essential oils, cleansing oils, toners, essence milks, facial masks, lip glosses, glue, etc. |
Batteries and mobile power
Lithium batteries and portable chargers with safety risks during transit.
| Item Type | Examples/Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Batteries and mobile power | Pure batteries, power banks (mobile power), and restrictions on battery quantities. |
Illegal and counterfeit goods
Products that infringe intellectual property or violate local laws.
| Item Type | Examples/Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Illegal counterfeit goods | Counterfeit or altered currency, certificates, official seals, etc. |
| Intellectual property violations | Patent infringement, trademark infringement, copyright violations (books, audio-visual materials, etc.). |
| Counterfeit and shoddy products | Fake and shoddy food, medicine, children’s products, electronics, cosmetics, textiles, etc. |
Toxic and corrosive substances
Chemicals that can cause harm through contact, inhalation, or leakage.
| Item Type | Examples/Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Toxic substances | Arsenic, mercury compounds, cyanides, selenium powder, highly toxic pesticides, etc. |
| Corrosive substances | Sulfuric acid, nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, storage batteries, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, etc. |
Drugs and drug-related items
Controlled substances and equipment that are linked to illegal drug use.
| Item Type | Examples/Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Illegal drugs and narcotics | Opium, heroin, cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamine, ketamine, amphetamines, etc. |
| Precursor chemicals | Piperonal, safrole, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, acetic anhydride, toluene, acetone, etc. |
| Drug use tools | Curling pipes, drug-related paraphernalia, etc. |
Illegal publications and media
Content banned under local or international regulations.
| Item Type | Examples/Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Illegal publications and media | Books, publications, pictures, photos, audio-visual products, etc., containing reactionary, obscene, or extremist content. |
Espionage equipment
Devices intended for covert surveillance or intelligence gathering.
| Item Type | Examples/Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Espionage equipment | Hidden eavesdropping devices, hidden cameras, burst transceivers, codebooks, steganography tools, interception devices, etc. |
Chemical products and raw materials
Industrial chemicals that are restricted by safety or export controls.
| Item Type | Examples/Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Chemical products and raw materials | Ores, chemical element specimens, raw materials, raw stones, etc. |
Money and valuables
Cash, coins, and high-value items that are subject to theft or loss risks.
| Item Type | Examples/Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Money and valuables | Counterfeit currency, circulating currency, bank cards, checks, gold, securities, real estate certificates, gambling utensils, etc. |
Military supplies
Equipment or gear used for defense or armed conflict.
| Item Type | Examples/Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Military supplies | Body armor, military boots, camouflage clothing, helmets, handcuffs, batons, police protection equipment, etc. |
Cigarettes and tobacco products
Smoking-related items that are restricted by law or regulation.
| Item Type | Examples/Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Cigarettes and tobacco products | E-cigarettes, cigarettes, tobacco-based ointments, oils, etc. |
Other sensitive products
Any additional products identified as high risk for safety, security, or compliance reasons.
| Item Type | Examples/Descriptions |
|---|---|
| Shape-sensitive products | Effervescent tablets, compression masks, etc. |
| Strong magnetic products | Fishing magnets, magnetic Rubik’s cubes, strong magnets, etc. |
| Multi-purpose sporting goods | Baseball bats, darts, compound bows, bows and arrows, and other visually offensive items. |
| Flag badges | National flags, party emblems, military flags, etc. |
| Prohibited chemicals | Mothballs (p-dichlorobenzene banned in Europe). |
| Human hair | Restrictions on human hair shipments. |